text:
Interview with Hotel Director Philip Herbert, Azamara®
He was born in Kenya, a land of big game and wildlife. It's funny how a lion figures into one of his best stories at sea, too! Learn the back story (and favorite stories) of the witty and entertaining Philip Herbert.
Q: Philip, tell us about your early life and where you grew up.
My mother was from Kenya and my father was from the UK. I was born in Nairobi but did all my schooling in the UK. Kenya is famous for its wildlife and that was a big part of my early life experience. There's a huge hospitality industry there, with hotels and lodges and all kinds of tourism. That's where I got my first inkling to go into this business.
I now live in UK in a little town called Cheltenham on the edge of the Cotswolds, a very pretty part of the country known for its quaint yellow stone colored villages. I live there with my wife and energetic black lab called Mutley. The countryside is beautiful and the three of us do a great deal of walking. I am also a keen runner and skier. I like being outside in the fresh air and countryside, and physical exercise always clears my head.
Q: Are you just as active at sea?
For me, running is a big part of keeping fit at sea. With the incredibly diverse itineraries here at Azamara we have lots of opportunities to get outdoors, so I take advantage of it whenever I can.
Q: How did you find your way to Azamara?
I completed a financial economics degree in London, and went to visit my brother in America who was married to a California girl. A friend of his who used to work on cruise ships suggested I might like that too. I was thinking, "Okay, so either I go back to the UK in winter and work at a bank, or stay here and do this for a while." It was an easy decision. I got a job with Celebrity Cruises and enjoyed it so much that I stayed. I progressed quickly and the company sponsored me through Hotel Management training. I spent about ten years at Crystal Cruises and it was very formative. During that time I worked my way up to Hotel Director. When Azamara started in 2007 they asked me to join. I readily accepted! I have worked on both the Journey and the Quest.
Q: Was your experience on both ships similar?
Yes, I have worked with both Captain Carl and Captain Johannes. They are both great individuals and have a lot to do with making Azamara what it is today. Senior management has to be out there, be visible, and be genuinely interested in creating a great guest experience. The captains do that very well, and they set an example for the rest of us.
Q: What are essential skills in your job?
One essential skill is to be as patient as possible and listen a lot—really listen and not talk. I work very hard to make sure our crew's welfare is looked after, so all they have to do is enjoy what they're doing and go out there and perform well. If they know they have onboard management that's willing to listen, care for and be there for them, they'll give their best.
The essential challenge is getting the best from my team so guests are happy and we all get the results we're aiming for. It may be a bit of a cliché, but a happy crew means happy guests. When the crew is happy, it correlates with high guest ratings.
Q: Tell me more about how a happy crew makes for happy guests.
What we hear onboard is how sincere and friendly our crew is, and how well they work together. I'm amazed at how many guests know our crew members by name. That's a real connection. It's the same in how our staff and crew say hello to each other and greet each other in a friendly way. That's genuine, and if they aren't doing it downstairs they won't do it upstairs. It will feel forced.
New ships are coming out all the time with a lot more tonnage and hardware, beautiful furnishings, and state of the art amenities. You can have all of that, but if you don't have a soul to the ship it doesn't make much difference. And the soul of the ship is the crew. Guests walk on and can feel it very quickly. They've been on other ships and feel just the opposite. A friendly crew sets the tone, and it becomes a friendly ship among guests, too.
Q: Can you give us a quick rundown of your responsibilities?
The hotel department is the largest department onboard. Out of a crew of 408, roughly 365 to 370 are on the hotel team. The main departments reporting to me are food and beverage, housekeeping, guest relations, finance team, cruise director and entertainment, plus our loyalty program, IT, print specialist and the stores. The largest part is food and beverage, and this is obviously very important to guest satisfaction. We are perfectionists when it comes to following public health guidelines and obviously the quality, service and friendliness of our bars, restaurants and room service make a big impact. It's not just upholding established guidelines but meeting the standards we've set for ourselves.
Q: What's a typical day in your life?
The great thing is that each day is different, either a new port or a sea day in a new place. I start with daily rounds, top to bottom. Decks, then Windows Café, then room service to make sure things are dispatched as they should be. Then I'll visit the main dining area and stores. Then catch up on email before a 9 AM meeting with department heads.
Most days in port we meet on the gangway as the tours are being dispatched. We say hello to guests, get to know them, and hear their feedback. The guests know they will see us there every day and after a while they feel comfortable bringing things to our attention. That's exactly what we want. If even the smallest thing isn't right, we want to hear about it.
There may be planning meetings after that. We also have weekly lifeboat drills that take quite a bit of time and training. I'll often have lunch in Windows Café with guests, then more email before an afternoon break. At 5 PM there are cocktail parties and loyalty parties, which are always fun. I usually go to Prime C or Aqualina at dinner to greet guests and check in with them. It's another great way to hear feedback.
Q: Your most challenging experience?
Certainly the engine room incident we had off the coast of Malaysia was both my most challenging and most reaffirming experience. We've had close to a 100% return rate from people onboard that cruise. And I'm sure that has to do with the way everyone onboard came together, the way the captain kept people informed, and the way Miami supported us. This is where having a strong team makes all the difference in the world.
Fortunately we got our own power back within a reasonable time, and were able to slowly sail until we reached Sandakan in Borneo three days later. It was a remarkable time. The morale onboard was strong and there was real bonding. Our guests collectively had a great attitude and were so cooperative.
I have to credit the resourcefulness of our staff and crew. Without power we couldn't cook anything in the galley, but we could still barbecue and the ocean was quite calm, so we decided to throw the White Night party on deck. Russ was outstanding at getting the team together to put on a great show. There was euphoria that we had all gotten through something together—something tough—and we were grateful for what we had.
Our guests were also amazed that Larry Pimentel, our CEO, flew out to meet them. Bert van Middendorp (AVP Hotel Operations) flew out too. Everyone was blown away that senior company management would be there and face the situation head-on. Taking responsibility…not shirking from it. That's what you want to see. People value straightforward answers and honesty.
Q: What's your funniest experience?
Before Azamara I was concierge on a world cruise. When we were in Africa, a lot of people bought large wooden carvings. We would store these purchases until the end of the voyage. So we were coming into Rio when this guest came to me and said, "I'm here to pick up my lion." I said "What? A lion carving?" "No, a real lion," he said. I'm frantically searching my mind, but I did not remember anything about a lion! Turns out he had purchased a full-size stuffed male lion. I had been busy that day so someone else had stored it for him. Later I saw it carried off the ship—this gigantic stuffed lion—and it even made the papers in Brazil.
Q: Best thing you've heard after a voyage?
People saying you've made a difference in my vacation, or recognizing how great the team is and all the hard work it takes to make a great voyage. Personal acknowledgement makes all the difference. It makes everything worthwhile.
Q: How do you deal with guests who are less than satisfied?
I am happy when I hear about it onboard because then I can fix it. The worst thing is to get a letter after the voyage when you learn for the very first time that a guest was unhappy. I wouldn't be in this job if I didn't want every guest to have a fantastic experience. That's why we offer so many opportunities for feedback during the voyage. We can fix just about anything.
Generally speaking, it's usually not the initial problem but how it's handled that counts. Did it take too long? Was it solved correctly the first time? That's something we constantly strive for, to make sure the resolution is swift and the guest is absolutely satisfied. We try to put ourselves in the guest's shoes. We all want to know that people care and are listening.
Q: What have you learned about human nature?
That most people don't like to complain. So by the time they come forward they are already unhappy that they have been put in a situation where they need to complain. And they doubt themselves, feeling they are perhaps inconveniencing you.
Now for some quick questions…
Q: Best ports for nightlife?
Kotor is fantastic and we're usually there overnight. St. Tropez and Edinburgh are also favorite nightlife places.
Q: Favorite onboard foods?
I like spicy food, so everything from Thai to Indian. And I love Japanese food. We do many international buffets in Windows and they're all very good. I like the ones with kick. No subtle foods for me!
Q: AzAmazing Evenings experience?
I would go for the one in St.Petersburg at the ballet; it was absolutely amazing. They put on quite a ballet for just our guests and it was spectacular. That was a very special evening. A beautiful event.
Q: Finally, what do you like most about working with Azamara?
Sailing into all these little places. Not only is it convenient, guests get to see a city from a different point of view. St Petersburg, Bordeaux and Seville are a few examples. A lot of the bigger ships dock hours outside of town, so you waste two hours just getting to and from where you end to start your tour. Your holiday is important! Don't waste time!
We sailed close to the Tower Bridge in London…what an experience! Seeing the Tower of London, the skyline of London, and you're sitting there looking right out at it. Captain Carl thrives on that sort of thing. He loves it. And so do our guests.
On Azamara you can be as involved as you want in experiences like that. You can watch the world go by and see this spectacular scenery. To me that's a big part of what makes a voyage like no other form of travel.
Q: Any desire to be a hotel director back on land?
Being on land—no! Every day is different, and I get to work with people from 50 different nationalities. I love how people from different cultures think differently too. I put myself fully into my work, knowing it will be followed by a good block of time to get recharged and revitalized.


text:
In my book, one of the myths I debunk is that surrounding the etiquette of removing the cork from a bottle of red wine to allow the wine to "breathe". It's clearly nonsense as the air-liquid interface is too small to have any significant effect. There are some claims that aeration either through decanting or whizzing the wine through an aerator device might have some effect on the aroma and taste by inducing oxidation. Again, that's a myth as the rate of oxidation even when bubbling air through wine would require two to three days to have any effect.
However (part 1).
I have just written a feature article for a chemistry magazine reporting on research into the synergistic effects of compounds present in wine that apparently enhance fruity or jam-like aromas even though the individual compounds themselves are present at levels below the detection limit of even the most sensitive nose. Analytical chemists have shown that these volatile compounds are certainly present and that the wine will taste different, usually worse (not so fruity nor aromatic), if they are not present in the mix. So, it could be that aeration or decanting leads to the evaporation of some of these compounds and thus negates the synergistic effects and so reduces the bouquet of the wine after it has been decanted. So, I stand by my debunking.
However (part 2).
I asked the researchers about this point and this is what they had to say:
"Evaporation of wines' volatiles (at sub-thresholds levels for some compounds and also at levels higher than thresholds for others) during decanting and also when the wine stays in the glass for more than 10 minutes have a clear impact on the global aroma. Nevertheless, the most volatile volatiles are not necessary the most impacting from an organoleptic point of view. A lot of work must actually be done to confirm, but what is sure is that wine's aroma is clearly modified by these facts. Is this aroma better or worst? That is the question… and it's highly probable that, according to the wines, there is not a unique answer."
I will update you on the details of the feature article once it's been decanted by my editor.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
You may know the name from the great release Look sharp! But meet the man behind the magic; Wayne has spent 25 years as a professional magician performing all over the world including Europe, Scandinavia, USA and the Isle of White.
Wayne was the previous co-owner of the illustrious House of Illusion in Spain and his magic follows a simple mantra, "Simplicity rules the day". His approach to magic is fun with the main emphasis on entertainment.
Wayne's lecture will include close-up, stand-up and comedy magic and there will definitely be something for everyone.


text:
Found 41 results
Filters: Keyword is paper and Author is Francesco Sottile [Clear All Filters]
"Direct observation of the band structure in bulk hexagonal boron nitride", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 95. American Physical Society, p. 085410, 2017.,
"Low-energy electronic excitations and band-gap renormalization in CuO", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 95. American Physical Society, p. 195142, 2017.,
"Exciton Band Structure in Two-Dimensional Materials", Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 116. American Physical Society, p. 066803, 2016.,
"Interpretation of monoclinic hafnia valence electron energy-loss spectra by time-dependent density functional theory", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 93. American Physical Society, p. 165105, 2016.,
"Rigamonti et al. Reply:", Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 117. American Physical Society, p. 159702, 2016.,
"Dynamical effects in electron spectroscopy", The Journal of Chemical Physics, vol. 143. p. 184109, 2015.,
"Electron-hole interactions in correlated electron materials: Optical properties of vanadium dioxide from first principles", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 91. American Physical Society, p. 195137, 2015.,
"Estimating Excitonic Effects in the Absorption Spectra of Solids: Problems and Insight from a Guided Iteration Scheme", Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 114. American Physical Society, p. 146402, 2015.,
"Exciton dispersion in molecular solids", Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, vol. 27. p. 113204, 2015.,
"Exciton energy-momentum map of hexagonal boron nitride", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 92. American Physical Society, p. 165122, 2015.,
"Quasiparticle excitations in the photoemission spectrum of CuO from first principles: A $GW$ study", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 91. American Physical Society, p. 045102, 2015.,
"Simple screened exact-exchange approach for excitonic properties in solids", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 92. American Physical Society, p. 035202, 2015.,
"Evidence for anisotropic dielectric properties of monoclinic hafnia using valence electron energy-loss spectroscopy in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and ab initio time-dependent density-functional theory", Applied Physics Letters, vol. 105. p. 222904, 2014.,
"Multiple satellites in materials with complex plasmon spectra: From graphite to graphene", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 89. p. 085425, 2014.,
"Exciton dispersion from first principles", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 88. American Physical Society, p. 155113, 2013.,
"Frenkel versus charge-transfer exciton dispersion in molecular crystals", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 88. American Physical Society, p. 195152, 2013.,
"Role of localized electrons in electron-hole interaction: The case of SrTiO3", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 87. American Physical Society, p. 235102, 2013.,
"Efficient calculation of the polarizability: a simplified effective-energy technique", The European Physical Journal B, vol. 85. Springer-Verlag, pp. 1-10, 2012.,
"Efficient GW calculations for SnO2, ZnO, and rubrene: The effective-energy technique", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 85. American Physical Society, p. 085126, 2012.,
"Plasmon satellites in valence-band photoemission spectroscopy", The European Physical Journal B, vol. 85. Springer-Verlag, pp. 1-7, 2012.,
"Valence Electron Photoemission Spectrum of Semiconductors: Ab Initio Description of Multiple Satellites", Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 107. American Physical Society, p. 166401, 2011.,
"Ab initio calculations of electronic excitations: Collapsing spectral sums", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 82. American Physical Society, p. 041103(R), 2010.,
"Dynamic structure factor and dielectric function of silicon for finite momentum transfer: Inelastic x-ray scattering experiments and ab initio calculations", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 81. p. 085104, 2010.,
"Ab initio electronic and optical spectra of free-base porphyrins: The role of electronic correlation", The Journal of Chemical Physics, vol. 131. AIP, p. 084102, 2009.,
"The challenge of predicting optical properties of biomolecules: what can we learn from time-dependent density-functional theory?", Comptes Rendus de Physique, vol. 10. pp. 469-490, 2009.,


text:
University Surveys
University Surveys Overview
Western Illinois University's Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research (CITR) offers members of the campus community the opportunity to conduct online surveys, including faculty and student research, classroom activities, and program evaluation. Please note that the time it takes to complete a survey request depends in part on the type of survey and the distribution method.
The Survey Process
The process, from beginning to end, of an online survey at Western Illinois University follows a sequential process:
- Design of the survey instrument and approvals
- Distribution of the survey
- Data gathering
- Survey close and results
Survey Features Available
CITR uses the Qualtrics survey software to construct and distribute surveys. Previews can be requested prior to the distribution of the survey, providing the opportunity to proofread the imported surveys and request changes. Qualtrics also offers special features such as links to files that participants can download and the inclusion of graphics in survey questions. Follow the above links for more information. To view the types of questions available in Qualtrics, visit the Design of the survey instrument and approvals page.
Survey Tips
- Start with the end in mind. Your data analysis will only be as good as the data you are collecting. Start by identifying what you want to get out of the project and develop your survey questions accordingly.
- Look for existing questionnaires intended to collect the same data you are interested in. Existing questionnaires may have better reliability and validity compared to those designed from scratch. An existing questionnaire that is not a perfect match to what you are interested in may still provide you with a good starting point when designing your own questionnaire.
- Please keep in mind that, in some cases, use of an existing questionnaire may require payment, permission from the author(s), or some other kind of permission. It is the responsibility of the person making the request to obtain approval in these cases.
- Allow enough time to get all the necessary approvals and to preview the survey before distribution.
- Some parts of the approval and design process can occur simultaneously. For example, you can proofread and request edits to the Qualtrics survey while waiting for approval for using Tele-STARS.
Request a Survey
View a flowchart showing an overview of the request process here.
- Download the survey request form and fill out as much as possible.
- Refer to the survey request form instructions and information on the survey request steps page for help filling out the request.
- Please fill out as much of the request form as possible. If you need to leave something blank note it in the "Additional notes / Instructions" section.
- E-mail the completed request form and survey (Word document form) to email@example.com. Include any additional documents and note those on the request form (see University survey request steps for more information).
- If you want to use the Qualtrics e-mailer to send invited surveys, submit an e-mail list along with survey request.
- If you want to send the survey to members of the University committee, download the survey population request, obtain the required signatures, and forward the request to Administrative Information Management Systems (AIMS).
- See the survey distribution flowchart.
- Obtain WIU Institutional Review Board approval if necessary.
- It is the responsibility of the person requesting the survey to communicate with the IRB compliance officer about whether their survey requires IRB approval.
- If your survey does not require IRB approval check "IRB review not required" on the request form.
- The survey design process can occur while waiting for IRB approval, though you may need to provide the IRB with a final draft of the survey before receiving approval.
- Make sure to forward documentation of IRB approval to firstname.lastname@example.com.
- Visit the Research Compliance Overview page for more information.
- Check whether you need to pay a fee or obtain written approval to use the survey.
- This generally applies only when all or part of your survey has been copied from another source (e.g. a published journal article).
- If you are unsure about this, CITR can help you. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.
Note that you can work on many of these steps at the same time. For example, you can submit the survey to CITR while waiting for an e-mail list from AIMS.
Contact Information
- Survey Administrator: firstname.lastname@example.com, (309) 298-2784
- Compliance Specialist: email@example.com, (309) 298-1191
- Administrative Information Management Systems, firstname.lastname@example.com, (309) 298-1944
- Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research, email@example.com, (309) 298-2434


text:
You can conveniently check the status of any Brussels Airlines-operated flight to/from Brussels.
All departure and arrival times are in local times.
You can search by:
Visit as well our dedicated B2B platform for companies and travel agencies and discover our special conditions for schools.
A group booking is limited to maximum 40 passengers, please adapt the number of passengers and try again.
See schedule
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city in the province of British Columbia. The city is named among the top cities worldwide for livability and quality of life, and is ethnically and linguistically one of the most diverse cities in the country. Considered one of Canada's top destinations, Vancouver has plenty of interesting things to do and to see and is a perfect location for both outdoor and indoor activities.
Vancouver has a rich tradition in organizing major events. In 1986, the city hosted the World Exposition on Transportation and Communication. The SkyTrain, Vancouver's metropolitan rail system, and the Canada Pavilion were built for EXPO 86 and remain up until today among the most important landmarks of Vancouver. In 2010, Vancouver co-hosted together with Richmond and Whistler the XXI Olympic Winter Games and in 2015, several matched of the FIFA Women's World Cup were played in the iconic BC Place Stadium.
The combination of modern skyscrapers, Edwardian buildings in the old downtown and the surrounding nature have turned Vancouver into a major film location over the past few years, known as Hollywood North. Besides the film industry, the city has also become a centre for software development, biotechnology, aerospace, video game development and animation studios.
With its proximity to the ocean, mountains, forests and lakes, the Vancouver area is a popular destination for outdoor recreation. The North Shore Mountains are situated at only a 30 minute drive from the city centre and offer several ski areas for some winter fun. In summer, it's the perfect location for mountain bikers thanks to the large selection of biking trails.


text:
Singapore – July 13, 2017 – Time is of great essence to the digital economy, and the speed at which websites work plays a major role in attracting and retaining visitors and current and potential customers. A new open source tool for checking not only how fast a website loads but a host of other factors has therefore been launched by entrepreneur Chandan Kumar at Siterelic.com.
Site Relic is the quintessential tool for very webmaster, website owner, entrepreneur or web engineer. The quick and handy tool is multi-device enabled, and show how much time it takes to access a website from a given user's position. The tool allows nine locations for the check, thus giving it an international appeal.
The website speed test tool comes with many additional features. Three important factors that can be checked with the site toolbox are the time to first byte, fully loaded time and page size. These checks can be conducted from both the desktop and a smart phone. The website speed test tool is also good for checking number of requests needed to load a webpage, and number of requests made by content type such as images, scripts, CSS, html, and others. Users can also see a full screenshot for desktop and mobile resolutions.
"Site Relic is a website speed testing tool that can be used from Asia, Europe and USA using mobile and desktop. Since no one likes a website that takes hours to load, this is a must have in every website manager's kitty," said Chandan Kumar of Site Relic.
Site Relic was started by Chandan Kumar as a solution for website owners and webmasters so that they could easily get hold of essential site metrics. The tool can also test HTTP secure headers, and for those who are technically inclined, Site Relic hosts many other tools related to Checking Screenshot globally, HTTP/2, DNSSEC, HSTS, DNS Record Lookup and Blacklist Lookup.
For more information, please visit: https://www.siterelic.com
Media Contact
Company Name: Site Relic
Contact Person: Chandan Kumar
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Country: Singapore
Website: https://www.siterelic.com/


text:
A blog to compile what I have learned (and what I am learning) about Mandriva (and GNU/Linux in general) since 2009, when I migrated. Current distros I'm using: OpenMandriva Lx 4, Mageia 7, PCLinuxOS, MX 19, PicarOS, Elive 3, and AntiX 13.
domingo, 5 de septiembre de 2010
A prickly questionnaire
I understand that people feel comfortable with Windows, despite the fact that this OS has a talent for hiding or corrupting files, failing to rescue documents, getting all sorts of infections, and "upgrading" to mostly cosmetic features instead of significant ones. After all, under Windows, you can bloat the computer with third-party software to patch holes or obtain the benefits that an OS should give you...or, at least, to try to get very close to that.
However, without third-party solutions, Linux can rescue your files, even when Windows gives up on you. Read this. In addition, Linux has a price that is difficult to beat , and its learning curve has been grossly exaggerated.
I created this questionnaire (based on my experience with Windows) to ask back to those people who think that Linux was not a good idea for me. Maybe, this is going to explain my choice more clearly to them.
A Questionnaire for Windows Users--from an ex Windows user
1. When was the last time that Windows succeeded at rescuing your files?
2. Was the need to rescue files derived from a virus infection, a hacker intrusion, or a normal crash of your OS?
3. Do you truly think that your OS crashes should be considered "normal"?
4. What OS were you using last time you got a virus in your computer?
5. If your antivirus detects a virus but can't remove it...do you know how to remove the threat manually?
6. If you do... Is that an easy process that you can repeat in exactly the same way for all viruses?
7. How long does it take to remove a virus (in average) using your AV software?
8. And without it?
9. Are you happy when you add up the cost of the OS, the office suite, and additional security software?
10. Do you pay for all that?
11. If you pay for your OS, do you do it because you are entirely satisfied with the product, because you are a loyal costumer, or because you have no choice?
12. If you did not pay for your OS, are you a proud pirate?
13. Would you like to get a legal suit from an economically-powerful software company?
14. What would you do if you got one from the company that makes your OS?
15. If you pirate not to pay for software...don't you think that using only free software makes more sense?
16. When was the last time you had to pay for your hard disk to be formatted and your OS to be reinstalled?
17. Do you feel satisfied calling formatting and reinstalling "regular maintenance operations"?
18. If you install your OS yourself...how long does the process take?
19. Did you include the time for the office suite and all the programs that you like in your answer for #18?
20. Do you have any guarantee that the next version of the OS you use will support your printer, scanner, and other hardware?
21. How about the files you made with the office suite you paid for? Will those be supported, or are you going to be expected to buy a new office suite?
22. If you consider carefully your answers for #20 and #21, do you think that the company that makes your OS really cares for your needs as a costumer?
23. If you understand that the company wants to make a profit at your expenses and it overlooks your needs, why do you support it with your money and why are you even willing to pay others to solve the problems that the company's products create?
24. If your answer was "because there is no choice", you know there are other choices. If fact, you are seeing one. Why are you brushing off the question?
25. How much more are you willing to take in the name of your OS? Let me rephrase that, "What does it take for you to try other choices?
I asked myself all those questions a year ago and that explains why I am using Linux today. Of course, I had to learn to operate this new OS and I made mistakes. However, in all this time, I haven't had anything that resembles--even remotely-- all the problems I had with Redmond's OSs. Nothing justifies all the money and time I wasted with Windows in 11 years.
One thing is sure: when my Linux computer finally stops working, at least I will know that my OS did everything possible to keep it alive. Windows, on the other hand, just tells you that your computer is not "good enough" to run the OS. But I learned that, for Microsoft, no currently available computer is good enough to run the latest version of Windows anyway. Mark my words: your nice computer running 7 today will be "obsolete" by the time Microsoft releases Windows 8. However, we know that, although some of the hardware might have become "older", what is actually obsolete for the Redmond software company is their OS, not the computer itself. And they have no regrets about spending any amount of money to fool you into believing that your hardware is to be blamed!
5 comentarios:
Very good quetionnaire! Now, it would be great if users answered it honestly. Also, some fanboys out there could do the same, but that requires ethics that either their vision, probably clouded by the current paradigm, or their stubborn zeal may not let them use.ResponderEliminar
Sorry for my bad grammar. I was in a hurry.ResponderEliminar
- Windows itself has never been able to rescued my files - Like Linux. On Windows or Linux, mostly because i sometimes act very dumb, i have always used a third party application to rescue my deleted files.
- No my own stupid brain was the cause of it ;-)
- Yep, mostly because i have messed around with the O/S. But it has been aged since have i seen Windows, Linux or Mac OS X crash (BSOD). Actually the recent thing seen been crashing, was my celluar phone - Sony Erricson. And that i don't regard as normal ;-)
- Hmmm Windows 2000 or 2003. Forgot to setup firewall and AV-software. Again my stupid brain hates me and i hate my brain :-)
- Yep, thanks to google - which are running on Linux. So actually thanks to Linux :-P
- In my case it was very easy. Actually more easy than compilling MPlayer on a Linux box :-P
- Don't know. Never had an infection with an AV-suite installed.
- 15 minuttes i think, but it was years ago.
- It makes my wife happy. If my wife is happy, then i'm happy ;-)
- My work pays for the Officesuite, the OS is OEM and the AV-software is free as in free beer.
- Actually i would but it this way ; If one produces a product, it is that induvidual that deceides how to distribute it, which license (Proprietary, Freeware, Free software, etc.), what price, etc. So to answer your question; no choice.
- Nope.
- Eh no... Who would ?
- Run screamin' away...
- I do not "pirate" software. .... yarrr (pirate sound)
- I have never done that.
- Nope.
- Looooong time regardless the O/S. I've get lots .... i mean lots of data that needs to be backed up before, wipping the HD. Actually it's the data and installing programs that takes time.
Linux ; setting up and configuring the desktop, tweaking the system to handle the hardware, installing drivers for the wireless network, installing programs which was not a part of the standard install.
Windows ; setting up and configuring the desktop, install drivers ....
Hang on!! It's almost the same procedure. Someting takes alonger time if it was a Linux install and shorter time with Windows - and vice versa...
- Yup.
- Nope and it's not just the hardware, but also software. No OS can guarantee that.
- Yep they will be supported or it can be solved by conversion with no cost third party applications.
- Yep they do. But i'm not naive, they also cares for their income ;-)
- Se above answers :-)
- Eh i'm not. :-)
- It does not take much if your a technical gifted person.
@ Mads,ResponderEliminar
Most of this confirms my perception. Thanks!
Very good questions. I've translated your questionnaire from English to Hungarian. As seen my blog. I'm wainting the reactions. :)ResponderEliminar
It's the Ides of August!
In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Roman general Julius Caesar is given an ominous message by the Soothsayer. The message is a simple warn...
I bought a new headset for my laptop two days ago. Since the store did not have many options available, I went for a Combat Argom Tech piec...
On Feb, 24, I upgraded my Fedora install from 27 to 29. Well, it turns out that Fedora 30 was released two days ago, so I decided to upgrad...


text:
June 25, 2012
Perspectives: Community Service Day
Posted in Community and Perspectives by Jill Jacobi Wood, OB Jacobi & Geoff Wood
A few weeks ago, we stopped by one of our local offices for an art auction they were hosting to raise funds for their neighborhood elementary school. As we all know, when funding...
Read More >
June 22, 2012
Community Service Day 2012 wrap-up
Posted in Community by Tara Sharp
Last week Windermere Real Estate offices from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, and Utah all took a day off from selling homes to help make a difference in their local...
Read More >
June 14, 2012
Community Service Day NW
Posted in Community by Tara Sharp
On Friday, June 15, Windermere offices in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, and Utah will be closed for a very special reason. For the past 28 years, Windermere has...
Read More >
June 14, 2012
From Military To Real Estate: A Career On Your Terms
Posted by Windermere Guest Author
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our service men and women, as well as their families. In addition to those who currently serve, there are also countless soldiers, sailors, and airmen around the world who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Read More >
June 06, 2012
Markets in Recovery
Posted in Market News by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
I have to say, as I pore over the streams of real estate related data that I receive every day, the world appears to be in a better position now than I have seen in several years. Certainly,...
Read More >


text:
I strongly object to the President of Glen Oaks Village, Bob Friedrich proposal to merge the Q76 and Q79 bus routes in a new single circular route. Friedrich has been stating for years that these routes (the Q76, via Francis Lewis Blvd. and the Q 79 on Little Neck Pkwy) run parallel.
\This is incorrect. Did he ever study the mTA bus maps? If Friedrich did, he would know that the Q76 starts at the Jamaica Bus Terminal, serves two Hillside Avenue subway stations, seven schools and finishes at the popular College Point shopping center. The MTA estimated travel time is 50 minutes for this route.
What alternatives are prepared for the Q76 riders if they do not board or departs this new bus line on Francis Lewis Blvd.? What are all the displaces students riders going to do at a time when they are at risk of losing their Metrocards? Why would anyone who utilizes the Q76 want or need such a route?
This route might be good for Friedrich's self-serving interest but a disaster to many transit riders. His blindfolded surgery, complete lack of knowledge of the MTA transfer network and refusal to listen to community leaders, would amputate many Q76 riders from this critical north/south transit artery.
Why would anyone from my Fresh Meadows community want to take the extra time to travel in the opposite direction and then be charged a higher fare at the Little Neck Long Island Railroad Station?
Friedrich stated proposal to help the fiscally challenged MTA is to create this new circular routes so that some bus lines can be maintained while others are eliminated. His plan to merge pre-existing MTA bus routes will turn our public transportation landscape into alien crop circles.
Tammy Osherov
Fresh Meadows


text:
Food bank to receive $22,000 worth of food
June 29, 2009
CNJ staff photo: Liliana Castillo The Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico will be receiving about $22,600 worth of commodities from the USDA's Emergency Food Assistance Program.
The Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico will be receiving about $22,600 worth of commodities from the USDA's Emergency Food Assistance Program from now until the end of August.
Gov. Bill Richardson announced Thursday that New Mexico's food banks will be receiving $700,000 worth of food as part of a federal stimulus program.
Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico Executive Director Nancy Taylor said the food will be parceled out according to population and poverty statistics. Taylor said she isn't sure of the amount of food the bank will receive in total, but this week's shipment of an extra 4,176 cans of mixed fruit, worth $2829, is going to be the norm for weekly stimulus shipments.
"This is something we're absolutely grateful for. The past two years have been so slim and we haven't gotten enough of certain products to even run the trucks," Taylor said.
Taylor said because the local food bank is the smallest of six in the state, it will receive less food.
"But that's OK. As long as we get some, we'll be tickled," she said.
The food will be added to the regular shipments taken to the 42 distribution centers the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico services in eight counties.
"The only thing I dread is when the stimulus ends and people are looking at me with their hands on their heads going 'where is our food?,'" Taylor said. "But we'll just deal with it."


text:
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Hockey today announced it has selected Ralph Engelstad Arena and the University of North of Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D., to serve as host for the 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. The 10-nation tournament features the world's best players under 20 years of age. The selection of Grand Forks and the awarding of the event to USA Hockey are pending official approval by the IIHF General Congress in June.
The announcement was made by USA Hockey President Walter L. Bush, Jr. (Edina, Minn.), USA Hockey Vice President & International Council Chairperson Ron DeGregorio (Salem, N.H.), USA Hockey Executive Director Doug Palazzari (Colorado Springs, Colo.), and USA Hockey Senior Director, International Administration Art Berglund (Colorado Springs, Colo.).
"Following an exhaustive and comprehensive bid evaluation process, our selection committee left Grand Forks fully convinced and confident that the event organizers will oversee a successful and first-class tournament," said Bush. "The World Junior Championship is a crown jewel within international hockey circles and serves as a launching pad for nearly all of the top players in the National Hockey League and Olympic Games."
Ralph Engelstad Arena was completed in 2001 with two sheets of ice. It seats more than 11,800 spectators, features in-house television production capabilities, and is arguably the finest college hockey rink in the United States. The arena is slated to serve as the primary rink for tournament competition, but another 3,800-capacity facility (also to be named Ralph Engelstad Arena) is currently being raised in Thief River Falls, M.N. A one-hour drive from Grand Forks, this new two-sheet arena will also host games during the IIHF World Junior Championship.
In addition, the organizing committee plans to host an interactive fan festival at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. Competition is set to begin in late December of 2004, with the bronze and gold medal games slated for the first week of January 2005.
"Hosting the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship satisfies one of the original purposes of Ralph Engelstad Arena — to grow into Junior-aged hockey divisions, which USA Hockey represents," said Todd Berning (Grand Forks, N.D.), General Manager of the facility. "Our approach will focus on providing accommodations, ticket sales, and corporate sponsorship and marketing consistent with a world-class event. We're extremely pleased to be selected as the host site by USA Hockey and we will be preparing in anticipation of the World Junior Championship for the next two years."
Grand Forks, N.D., was chosen over two other finalist locations: Columbus, Ohio and Omaha, Neb. Five total bids were received by USA Hockey."We were extremely impressed by all of the bid applications that we received, particularly those of our eventual finalists," said Palazzari. "But our decision came down to three primary factors in favor of Grand Forks: First, the uniquely superior quality and design of Ralph Engelstad Arena is tailor-made to suit this tournament. Second, there will be a high level of community excitement and commitment supplied by an area so rich in hockey tradition. And, finally, there is strong leadership in place with the host committee to ensure the execution of crucial business and marketing plans."
Since its inception in 1977, the IIHF World Junior Championship has been held in the United States three times: 1982 in Minnesota's Twin Cities, 1989 in Anchorage, Alaska, and 1996 in Boston. On Thursday Canada will begin hosting the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the event travels to Finland in 2004. The United States has earned three medals in tournament history, claiming the bronze in both 1986 and 1992, and the silver in 1997.
Many of the NHL's top American-born stars skated for Team USA in the IIHF World Junior Championship, including Jeremy Roenick (Philadelphia Flyers), Chris Chelios (Detroit Red Wings), Brian Leetch (New York Rangers), Mike Modano (Dallas Stars), John LeClair (Philadelphia Flyers) and Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues).
"No other event brings together the best young players from the entire international hockey community like the World Junior Championship," said Art Berglund (Colorado Springs, Colo.), USA Hockey Senior Director of International Administration. "The Grand Forks hockey community has clearly demonstrated its full support of this bid-to-host. These key grassroots efforts, combined with a close proximity to Canada, will combine to make the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship the top sporting event in the area at that time."


text:
Charlie Sheen is enjoying a "modern family vacation" with his ex-wife Denise Richards.
The former 'Two and a Half Men' actor is enjoying a break at an undisclosed destination with his former spouse, their daughters Sam, seven, and Lola, six, and the actress' adopted six-month-old baby Eloise.
Alongside a picture of the quintet, Charlie tweeted: "what's better than a modern family vacation!?! love spending winter break w/ @denise_richards & my kids! (sic)"
While Charlie and Denise haven't always got along in the past, they have managed to forge a good relationship for the sake of their kids and decided to go away together for their daughters.
Denise tweeted: "it's good for our children thats all I care about. (sic)"
The family have been making the most of the sun during their vacation, with Denise revealing yesterday (19.12.11) they had enjoyed a "great day" at the beach, with the girls getting their hair braided.
She tweeted: "Girls are getting braids in their hair. I'm enjoying the hot weather ... great day at the beach ... gonna hit the lazy river before the sun goes down. (sic)"
She later added: "Having a fabulous dinner with the girls ... @charliesheen ordered the Hot Rock. (sic)"
The family are likely to be very comfortable wherever they are as Denise tweeted a picture where 17 suitcases were visible.
She captioned the image: "We don't travel light!"


text:
One of the most critical parameters in today's congested wireless networks is Passive InterModulation or as it is commonly known, PIM. Not only is it necessary to select properly designed and tested low PIM components, but they must also be connected to the interconnecting coaxial cable with the appropriate torque.
Read More
As systems become more and more complex, choosing how best to combine two or more RF signals has become a far more difficult question to answer, and this application article is intended to highlight the benefits of the many options available to today's system engineer.
Couplers and samplers are similar to power dividers in that they each divide an RF signal into two or more signals. However, power divider outputs are of roughly equal amplitudes; couplers and samplers have a main line with one or more auxiliary lines.
Passive distribution systems using coaxial cable are generally the first choice of engineers designing in building wireless coverage systems.
This application note discusses the details of the performance characteristics of the diplexer and triplexer filters and their applications.
Combining different wireless carriers does not always mean using complex filters or acceptance of the 3 dB loss of hybrid combiners. The choice usually starts with considerations of the guard band between the signals and the acceptable limitations of passive intermodulation (PIM).
A wide and often confusing assortment of power dividing and combining methods are available to the system designer, each of which has its own attributes and deficiencies. In addition, the same component can often be used to both divide and combine. This application note is intended to guide the system designer in the selection of the optimum component for any particular need.
Mechanical tuning devices continue to be a necessary part of all well-equipped microwave laboratories as well as microwave systems. Their convenience, power handling ability and linear properties cannot be duplicated in comparable solid state devices. This paper provides and overview of these tuners, discusses recent design advances and describes some new exciting system applications.
Electrical equipment can be damaged if unwanted objects or particles ingress into it; liquid ingress is as damaging.
Microlab Signal Tappers, also known as Signal Sampler, are very similar to directional couplers. The signal sampler extracts all signals regardless of the direction of flow. These include direct-coupled resistive samplers as well as electrostatic and electromagnetic probe samplers. Tappers are frequently used in Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and are available with either N or 7-16 mm DIN connectors.
Microlab has been focused on the Military and Defense markets since our inception in 1950. In spite of the emergence of wireless markets,a significant portion of our commitment and focus remain fixed on the high-reliability products and processes used in military and defense applications
The advent of wireless with its tightly grouped, high power, high frequency signals and the associated high sensitivity receivers has created many unanticipated PIM (Passive Intermodulation) problems.
Splitters are used extensively in wireless signal distribution networks, to split the base station transmitted signal, Tx, into many different paths to reach multiple antennas, and at the same time to transmit the signals received by the antennas, Rx, back to the base station receiver.
Hybrid Couplers are used in wireless distribution systems to combine two carrier signals without mutual interference or to split a signal into an RF path and an RF + DC path.
Defined as Terrestrial Trunked Radio the TETRA market place supports first responder and emergency radio requirements world wide. Microlab supports TETRA base station requirements with a full suite of passive RF components.
The Microlab standard product line results from over 50 years of our leadership in passive microwave components.
Microlab has been making passive components for the sub-systems and laboratory markets for over 50 years. Such experience has contributed to the design of a range of dedicated products meeting the special demands of the commercial wireless market.
The next big step in the wireless industry will be the jump to WiMAX. Identified as wireless "metropolitan area networks", WiMAX can provide broadband wireless access with a coverage radius of up to 30 miles. Microlab is supporting the roll-out of these WiMAX networks with broad band filter diplexers, splitters, combiners and directional couplers.
ISO 9001-2015 Certified
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
© Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.
Contact Us


text:
You have no items in your shopping cart.
30-Minutes to Fitness "Lean Body Circuits"
Lean Body Circuits has 2, 30 minute workouts that blasts fat, improves muscle shape and definition and elevates overall fitness gains.
Both workouts are made up of athletic drills, upbeat boxing combinations, lower body weight exercises and upper body strength training. These challenging and effective drills are performed back to back to give you a leaner, fitter, stronger body...quicker!
Equipment needed: dumbbells (moderate to heavy for more of a challenge)


text:
Blast off into outer space with a friendly canine companion.
This giant Rocketdog wall decal will help your little one go exploring among the stars and planets. Applying this design is easy: just peel each element from the sheet and apply it to any smooth surface you please. The stickers can be removed and repositioned at any time, and used over and over without ever damaging the paint. These decals make a cute addition to any wall... but why not try it on a ceiling above your little one's bed?
This product is printed on opaque material. Suitable for any wall color.


text:
Mikael Beckman
I've had to remind myself all day that it isn't Thursday. It's not even Wednesday
yet, it's still Tuesday night and for some reason the week is just crawling by.
This apartment is fresh and bright and so beautifully understated.
To add something odd and not at all interior related, I've been testing out my new
Lumix and am clueless! Does anyone have any pointers for me? I tried searching how
to's and was disappointed to only find reviews, at least they were positive!
Israel ate a small owl and cat today, leaving just pieces of the head on my lap.
Other Stories
6 comments:
That is one lovely apartment. No camera pointers I'm afraid, however we were considering getting the Lumix too. Is it the GF1 you have? I hope you can find some good tips. xReplyDelete
Amazing! You have such an eye for beauty! Love it!ReplyDelete
Cute new top banner!ReplyDelete
And very nice photos too...!
Struggeling with my new camera too. Not a Lumix. The only thing that helps is trying, trying, trying I guess... You have the manual?ReplyDelete
- Claire WilliamsonNovember 11, 2010
Hello! lovely blog :)ReplyDelete
I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 and absolutely adore it! What sort of pointers would you like?
WOw! Love the clean lines and proportion here!Crisp of White is truly wonderful!You have such a great eye. Love the spaces!Spectacular Photographs!ReplyDelete
Thank you for your comments, I love hearing from you!
Questions, comments or sponsorship inquires, please contact me via the 'contact' link.


text:
Ceramic isn't just for pottery. It's used in military armor to stop bullets and the Space Shuttle to thwart heat. Now, Asus is reintroducing the material in its sci-fi-tastic Marine Cool motherboard.
If our best guess is correct, not only is the board built on a ceramic underplate, but all of those off-white structures on the board are "micro-porous ceramic" heat sinks as well. But not only do they dissipate heat from board components while looking ever so evil—the ceramic also improves the structure integrity of the board itself.
The only catch to performance clockers may be the inclusion of SO-DIMM slots—small form memory slots generally reserved for notebooks.
As of right now, the Marine Cool is a concept. But like their dual-screen laptop, if Asus actually brings this model to market, we'd all remember that the company is capable of creating a lot more than just netbooks.


text:
- Home
- Our School
School History Vision, Mission & Values School Motto School Crest School Song School Rules Financial Information Niche Programmes P1 Registration Information General Information Supporting Singaporean Students Pupil Recognition
- Our ACSJ Family
School Leaders Management Team Academic Staff Administrative & Operational
- Departments
English Mother Tongue Mathematics Science PE, CCA & Aesthetics Character & Citizenship Education Information & Communications Technology Special Needs
- Our CCAs
General Information Uniformed Groups Clubs Achievements Performing Arts Groups Sports & Games ACSplore (Modular Sports CCA)
- Our Partners
Parents The ACS Family ACS(J) PSG Prayer Groups
- Calendar
- Useful Links
For Staff For Pupils For Parents
- Home-Based Learning
Primary One Primary Two Primary Three Primary Four Primary Five Primary Six Thought for the Day
Home > Home-Based Learning (HBL) > Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day
Anglo-Chinese School (Junior)
16 Winstedt Road, Singapore 227988
Tel: (+65) 6733 7911 • Fax: (+65) 6734 6518 • Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
|All photos and videos belong to Anglo-Chinese School (Junior).
Reproduction in any form is prohibited.
Copyright © All Rights Reserved 2019


text:
Jakks Pacific MXS Moto Bike and Rider - Ken Roczen
Browse all deals at Toys"R"Us
See more in Vehicles, Trains & Remote Control
See more from Jakks Pacific
* This offer may contain time-sensitive information and offers. Please check with Toys"R"Us to confirm actual price & availability.
- Be the first to comment!
1640 West Mason Street
Green Bay, WI 54303


text:
Prep Time: 20 minutesCook Time: 45 minutes
Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat eggs, sugar and extract together in a medium bowl. Add flour, baking soda and salt, stirring to form a stiff dough. Stir in blueberries, coconut and almonds. Shape dough into a ball on a floured board. Press into a 10x7 inch rectangle (about 1/2 inch thick) on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 30 minutes; let cool slightly. Cut into very thin slices with a serrated knife and place on 2 baking sheets. Reduce heat to 200°F and bake for 12 to 15 minutes on each side or until just starting to brown around the edges. Let cool completely to crisp.


text:
We've been warned about the dangers of opening emails from someone we don't know. We've been warned not to open suspicious attachments. Now we're being warned that computer crooks have found a new way to target us: on search engines.
Jim McGrath says his computer was recently held for ransom. While he was searching online, his computer froze and a warning popped up demanding he pay $60 for a program to get rid of a virus. McGrath tried for hours to get his computer unfrozen, but it would not function until he paid.
"I felt I was being scammed into buying a virus program that I didn't need because I already had virus programs and I couldn't even run a scan on my own virus program," he said.
Expers say McGrath was hit by a ransomware scheme, and it's just one way you could be attacked.
Cyber crooks are manipulating search engines so their poisonous or tainted web links pop up in your results. And if you click on the malicious link, malware or viruses invade your computer.
"You will be infected and you won't even know it," said Chris Larsen with Blue Coat Security.
Blue Coat Computer Security's analysis found search engine poisoning attacks mounting. And now computer users are three times more likely to get a tainted link from a search engine than in an email.
"People do trust the search engines and they are predisposed to click on whatever they see in the results, and because they're not aware it could be dangerous this turns out to be a very effective attack for the bad guys," said Larsen.
Blue Coat found bad guys don't only target people searching for top news stories or adult content. They may try to lure you to their links while you search common topics like: health and medical information, samples of business and professional letters and seasonal searches like holiday recipes, decorations and costume ideas.
"Search engine algorithms have been designed partially to prevent cyber criminals from doing this kind of behavior," said Chris Boggs, Chairman of SEMPO.
The search engine industry group, SEMP, says websites do fight back.
In a statement Google said, "We've built and refined tools over many years to keep malicious content out of our search results and to warn website owners whose sites may have been compromised. We show millions of warnings to Google search users every day to warn them about suspicious websites that could harm their computer. A combination of automated and manual processes helps us respond quickly to evolving threats and stay a step ahead."
In a statement, Bing said, "Bing is able to detect webpages consisting of machine-generated spam, keyword stuffing, redirect spam or malware, allowing Bing to effectively remove such sites from results. This is done through constant innovation on finding ways to detect the various evolving versions of the kinds of spam techniques we face. We are actively working on new filtering techniques for Image search where the majority of these malicious links were found. Additionally, signals that have been previously spammed now have countermeasures to prevent abuse. Bing has also developed several ranking signals to help weed out spam results and better understand the intent of the searcher. We are always looking to improve the Bing user experience for customers, and remain dedicated to providing a trusted and reliable search experience."
Unfortunately, sometimes cyber criminals sneak past even tough search engines security. However, SEMPO says there are a few things you can do to help that from happening.
To avoid poison links:
Look at website addresses endings. Experts say .com and .net are usually safe. But if it ends in something you've never heard of like .cx or .tf, you may want to avoid those.
If the text under the link looks garbled, don't click on it.
McGrath isn't sure what he clicked on to launch the Ransomware. He removed the software from his PC, but wonders if it's still lurking behind the scenes.
"I worry that they still may have access to my computer," he said.
Experts say if a link just doesn't seem right, don't click on it. Teach your kids about how to avoid poisonous links when they search.
And of course, always make sure you have good, up to date, anti-virus and malware programs running on your computer.


text:
By EMEKA AGINAM
FirstBank of Nigeria Plc is offering customers with a new solution the freedom to capture their individuality on the debit Naira MasterCard Card.
This is yet another innovative offering from FirstBank, following the recent launch of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Transfer service that enables people without bank accounts or electronic cards receive funds from its ATMs across the nation.
With 'expressions', the Bank's customers assume control of the look and design of their Naira MasterCard by exercising the freedom to print images of their loved ones and favourite moments of their lives on their cards.
Flashing the card whenever one is out shopping or having it tucked away safely in one's wallet is sure to evoke in FirstBank's card holders a feeling of being in charge.
'Talk about a card you can really call your own, that's what 'expressions' is all about. Rewarding our esteemed customers with the freedom to determine the design of their Naira MasterCard is the bank's way of appreciating their patronage and restating our commitment to constantly seeking creative ways of delighting our customers,' Mr. Chuma Ezirim who heads the Bank's E-Business Group said while during the unveiling of the product.
According to her, the process for requesting for the product/designing the card is initiated on the Bank's website where the customer is at liberty to select a picture (from an existing bank-managed gallery or from a personal collection), which would serve as the artwork on the front of his/her card. Following submission of the selected design, he said that the personalized card would be delivered in 72 hours for Lagos locations and five business days for upcountry locations.
Ezirim explained that 'expressions' card product has security features powered by an embedded microchip and a four digit PIN, noting that the Naira denominated card can be used for domestic and international transactions wherever the MasterCard logo is displayed.
'In addition to designing their electronic cards, customers with 'expressions' still enjoy the safe, secure, and convenient service the Bank provides via its alternative channels including PoS machines, the Internet and ATMs globally,' he added.


text:
Copenhagen MG seminar: Food and science fun (part 6)Thursday, April 28th, 2011
How much does air weigh? With a balloon and a microwave oven you can easily find out says Peter Barham.
Peter Barham's presentation at the MG seminar in Copenhagen focused on how food can be used to make students interested in physics and chemistry (not a bad thing, especially since 2011 is the International Year of Chemistry) -Most people think science is boring and difficult, he said. But demos can help bring science to life, and believe it or not – experiments are much better when they go wrong. Using balloons, champagne, potatoes and liquid nitrogen Peter Barham proved his point. (more…)


text:
The College of Business Student Research Journal is a new publication designed to support and encourage excellence in undergraduate research and writing in all areas of business, and to provide a vehicle for the dissemination of quality research studies by Athens State University students. The publication will be published annually as we move forward.
By contributing research papers to the Journal to be considered for publication, students have the opportunity to gain experience and expand their professional resumes with peer-reviewed, scholarly publications. Each issue of the journal will be freely available on the College of Business website, making the articles searchable and retrievable by students, researchers, employers, and others interested in the many topics our students pursue in their academic studies.
Students are encouraged to submit outstanding research papers to the Journal's Editorial Board for publication. Select "Submission and Format Guidelines" from the menu for more information.


text:
There is one in my house, a beautiful 13 slab of aluminium and glass that flexes even less than MIT's champion chess team. Well, that perfect sexiness might make it to Apple's 4th generation iPod touch. Currently, the iPod touch uses a rounded shiny (and easily scratched) steel back. Apple's 2010 iPod event is only days away and we expect rumours of the new back, dual cameras, FaceTime, and zippy new iPhone 4 internals to be corroborated.
iLounge shed some light on the new iPod touch:
…Familiar. Think of the top of a MacBook Pro, only smaller, which is to say flat rather than curved at the center—closer to the look of the first-generation iPod touch's back, only with modifications. The rear camera is there, but there is still some question as to whether what's next to it will be a LED flash like the one in the iPhone 4, or a microphone like the one next to the video camera of the iPod nano. We've been told to expect a microphone rather than a flash, with a continuation of the bottom-mounted headphone port and Dock Connector port.
iLounge also mention the above cases: one for the upcoming iPod nano refresh and for the new iPod touch. The new nano may sport a darling 3cm*3cm screen and shave over half its size. Something in me wonders if the shuffle will be retired.


text:
|Article Index
|Author Bio
|Book Reviews
|Discussion Questions
|Full Version
Author Bio
• Birth—May 7, 1943
• Where—Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia
• Education—Monash University
• Awards—Booker Prize (twice); National Book Council Award;
Commonealth Writers Prize (twice); Franklin Miles Award
(thrice); Prix duMeilleur Livre Etranger; Colin Roderick Award
• Currently—lives in New York City, New York, USA
"My fictional project has always been the invention or discovery of my own country," the prizewinning Australian author Peter Carey has said. This postcolonial undertaking has sometimes led Carey to wrestle with the great works of English literature: The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith (1994) draws on Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy, while Jack Maggs (1997), a version of Dickens's Great Expectations, is told from the perspective of the convict who returns to England from Australia.
But although Carey went to what he calls "a particularly posh" Australian boarding school, he claims he didn't discover literature until he was out of school. He studied chemistry at Monash University for just a year before leaving to work in advertising. There, surrounded by readers and would-be writers, he discovered the great literature of the 20th century, including authors like Joyce, Faulkner and Beckett. "To read Faulkner for the first time was for me like discovering another planet," Carey said in an interview with The Guardian. "The pleasure of that language, the politics of giving voice to the voiceless."
Publishers rejected Carey's first three novels, so he began writing short stories. These, he later said, "felt like the first authentic things I had done." He was still working for an advertising agency when his first collection of short stories appeared in 1973, and he kept the part-time job after moving to an "alternative community" in Queensland. His first published novel, Bliss (1981), won a prestigious Australian literary prize, the Miles Franklin Award. The book is about an advertising executive who has a near-death experience and ends up living in a rural commune.
Carey's later novels ranged farther outside the bounds of his own experience, but he continued to develop his concern with Australian identity. 1988's Oscar and Lucinda, which tells the story of a colonial Australian heiress and her ill-fated love for an English clergyman, won the Booker Prize and helped establish Carey as one of the literary heavyweights of his generation. He won another Booker Prize for True History of the Kelly Gang (2000), the story of a notorious 19th-century outlaw whose legacy still shapes Australia's consciousness.
Though Carey now lives and teaches in New York City, his home country and its past still possess his imagination. ''History,'' he writes, ''is like a bloodstain that keeps on showing on the wall no matter how many new owners take possession, no matter how many times we paint over it.''
• Peter Carey and J. M. Coetzee are the only two-time Booker Prize winners to date.
• Carey caused a stir in the British press when he declined an invitation to meet Queen Elizabeth II. The royal invitation is extended to all winners of the Commonwealth Writers Prize, which Carey received in 1998 for Jack Maggs. He did meet the Queen after he won the award a second time, for True History of the Kelly Gang in 2001.
• Fans of Carey's work know that in 1997, Oscar and Lucinda was made into a critically acclaimed movie starring Ralph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett. But they may not know that Carey wrote the screenplay for the critically panned Wim Wenders film Until the End of the World (1991) as well as the screenplay adaptation of his own novel, Bliss (1991). (From Barnes & Noble.)
Site by BOOM
LitLovers © 2020


text:
The early twentieth century was a transforming period for the United States. Progress was the name of the game and science became a way to play. Physicians of the day used scientific language and data to authenticate their methods and equipment. The PI Nixon Medical Historical Library has such medical equipment from the period available, particularly in the realm of electrotherapy.
Popular for the treatment of minor muscle discomfort, the Violet Ray electrotherapy apparatus was believed to provide healthy stimulation to ease anxiety, rheumatism, and inflammatory conditions. Developed using Nikola Tesla's (1856-1943) invention of the resonant transformer circuit, known as the Tesla coil, and growing knowledge of alternating electrical currents, these violet ray machines were manufactured and became accessible to the public. Figure 1, a STAR-RIGHT Violet Ray electrotherapy apparatus was manufactured by The Fitzgerald MFG. CO out of Torrington, Connecticut in approximately 1926. The Grey 10″ X 6″ box, with a cloth interior, contains 2 general body electrodes (glass)used to provide electric therapy to various parts of the body, 1 metal electrode, an insulated handle with cord connected to the transformer, with a secondary cord connecting the transformer to the plug.
Figure 2, is another Violet Ray electrotherapy apparatus manufactured by the A.S. Aloe company out of St. Louis between 1900 and 1940. It is in a wooden box with a cloth interior and,
contains 3 general body electrodes (glass), one surface electrode, one comb electrode, and one throat electrode. An insulated handle with cord and plug is also included.
Another type of electrotherapy device in use was the McIntosh combined, dry cell, Galvanic and Faradic battery. This battery is unique because it was the first combination of two different types of batteries. This combination had its appeal to physicians and other scientists because either battery, or current, could be used separately or simultaneously, and it was portable. Galvanic currents were used to create localized muscle contractions or to remove or reduce moles, ulcers and tumors. The Faradic current gave a more powerful jolt to the body and was used as a general stimulant. The electrolytic needle holder was used in the removal of hair. Figure 3 shows a McIntosh Combined dry cell Galvanic and Faradic Battery, manufactured by the McIntosh Electrical Corporation out of Chicago between 1922 and 1946. It has a black, leather covered, wooden case with a covered handle and two latches, and has a purple velvet false lid that covers the compartment and is attached by two poppers.
The box contains instructions (stained with various holes) on how to use the machine and how to recharge / replace the battery, 3 felt pad electrodes, 2 wooden handles
with metal shafts, 1 electrolytic needle holder, and 2 miscellaneous rollers. The use or purpose of these rollers is unknown. The set may be missing a magnifying glass that attaches to the electrolytic needle holder, as well as conducting leads.
If you have any ideas or knowledge of what the two miscellaneous rollers may have been used for or if you would like to see this equipment first hand, please visit the Nixon Library or contact Mellisa DeThorne at email@example.com or 210-567-2470.
Trinaé Weldy, Special Collections Intern
Information Courtesy of:
Behary, Jeff. "AS Aloe Lightning Catalog." The Turn of the Century Electrotherapy Museum. The Turn of the Century Electrotherapy Museum, 28 Aug 2004. Web. 9 Sep 2013. <http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/Library/ASAloeCatalog/index.htm>.
"Biographies." Corrosion Doctors. Kingston Technical Software, n.d. Web. 12 Sep 2013. <http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Biographies/GalvaniBio.htm>.
Blaufox, M. Donald. "The Instruments: Electricity." Museum of Historical Medical Artifacts. Museum of Historical Medical Arifacts. Web. 4 Sep 2013. <http://www.mohma.org/instruments/category/electricity/electrotherapy_apparatus/>.
"Electrical Stimulator, 1922-1946." British Cojumbia Medical Assocation: Medical Museum. British Cojumbia Medical Assocation, n.d. Web. 9 Sep 2013. <http://www.bcmamedicalmuseum.org/object/993.627.1>.
"Museum Collection: 1800-1900 Galvanism and Faradism." The Turn of the Century Electrotherapy Museum. The Turn of the Century Electrotherapy Museum. Web. 9 Sep 2013. <http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/Museum18001900_Galvanism_Faradism.htm>.
"Museum Collection: Violet Rays." The Turn of the Century Electrotherapy Museum. The Turn of the Century Electrotherapy Museum. Web. 9 Sep 2013. <http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/MuseumVioletRays.htm>.
Vujovic, Ljubo. "Tesla Biography: Nikola Tesla The Genius Who Lit the World." Tesla Memorial Society of New York. Tesla Memorial Society, 10 Jul 1998. Web. 9 Sep 2013. <http://www.teslasociety.com/biography.htm>.
Additional Links:
For pictures of electrotherapy newspaper advertisements, please visit The Turn of the Century Electrotherapy Museum, the AS Aloe Lightning Catalog at http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/Library/ASAloeCatalog/index.htm
For more information on Luigi Galvani (1737-1798), who discovered the Galvanic current, Michael Faraday (1791-1867), who discovered the Faradic current, or Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), who invented the battery please visit the Corrosion Doctors' website http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Biographies/GalvaniBio.htm.


text:
4-stroke, 1-cylinder, OHV, air-cooled
82.0 x 76.0mm
2-speed, automatic, reverse, High, Low, Neutral, Reverse
Unit swing axle/3.1 in
8.1 in
70.1 in
MacPherson strut/3.1 in
26x9-12 Duro Bias
26x9-12 Duro Bias
106.7 in
52.6 in
73.4 in
1082.7 lb**
4.2 gal
21.7 lb-ft @ 2400 rpm
11.8 ft (differential unlocked)
400 lb
926 lb
1100 lb
Shaft-driven selectable 4-wheel drive, dual-mode rear differential, 2WD/4WD/rear differential lock
12, 24 or 36 months
17 amp
Fuel gauge, hour meter, oil temp light, parking brake light
35.6 x 40.9 x 9.6 in
(2) Halogen headlights, Tail/brake lights
Hydraulic drum
Hydraulic drum
Kawasaki 3-Year Limited Warranty
All MULE side x sides' Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) meets the performance requirements of ISO 3471
Realtree Xtra® Green Camo—Realtree APG-XTRA Camouflage Design © 2012 of Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd., all rights reserved.
**Curb weight includes all necessary materials and fluids to operate correctly, full tank of fuel (more than 90 percent capacity) and tool kit (if supplied).
Specifications subject to change
KAWASAKI CARES: Always wear protective gear appropriate for the use of this vehicle. Never operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Protect the environment. The Kawasaki MULE™ side x side is an off-highway vehicle only, and is not designed, equipped, or manufactured for use on public streets; roads or highways. Obey the laws and regulations that control the use of your vehicle. Read Owner's Manual and all on-product warnings. ©2020 Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.


text:
Nobel medicine prize goes to SF scientist
It started in 1962, when an Oxford scientist used cells from the gut of a frog to make tadpoles that were clones of the original. Forty-four years later, a Japanese researcher trained in San Francisco and inspired by those clones unveiled the recipe for transforming any cell in the body into any other type of cell.
Although their work was a generation apart, the joint discoveries of Dr. John Gurdon and Dr. Shinya Yamanaka won them the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine on Monday.
Gurdon, who now works at the University of Cambridge, and Yamanaka, a researcher with appointments at Kyoto University in Japan and the Gladstone Institutes and UCSF in San Francisco, together altered scientists' understanding of basic cell biology and unleashed the potential of stem cells to transform modern medicine.
"This is a very special day for Yamanaka and Gurdon, for Gladstone and UCSF, and for humanity in general," said Dr. Deepak Srivastava, director of the Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine at Gladstone. "What we have is a discovery that has been a game-changer for how we approach human disease."
Their work has yet to translate into viable medical treatments, but the potential for life-saving, disease-altering therapies is revolutionary, stem cell experts say - and the Nobel Prize committee agreed.
Yamanaka's and Gurdon's discoveries revolve around stem cells. The basic, blank-slate cells are what is known as pluripotent, meaning they can transform into every kind of human cell in the body.
Gurdon, 79, showed that it was possible to take the genetic material from any cell in the body, transplant it into a stem cell, and reprogram it to become any other cell in the body. Yamanaka, 50, cracked the code for sending any full-grown "adult" cell back in time, regressing it to its immature stem cell state.
"I feel very honored to share this award with Dr. John Gurdon, because without his work being published 50 years ago - the same year I was born - I could never have done what I did," Yamanaka said in a teleconference from Japan on Monday. "Because of his science, we knew, at least in theory, we could make stem cells."
Eased ethical debate
Yamanaka's cells - called induced pluripotent stem cells, or IPS cells - are already used in labs all over the world to study how diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer's develop, and how they may be stopped. And the invention of IPS cells has resolved much of the long ethical debate around human stem cells, which before Yamanaka's discovery could be reaped only from embryos.
"We don't have to use human embryonic cells," Yamanaka said. "We can create the stem cells from patients and from healthy volunteers. That is a very important advantage."
Scientists make IPS cells by genetically modifying adult cells, usually skin cells because they're easiest to access. Yamanaka discovered four protein agents - now known as the "Yamanaka factors" - that, when applied to adult cells, trigger that genetic transformation.
Possible uses
Once a cell has been regressed to its stem cell state, it can be coaxed to become just about any other cell in the body. Someday, doctors may be able to replace cardiac cells damaged in a heart attack with new cells made from a patient's own skin. Similarly, they could repair injured brains or spines with engineered nerve cells.
Already, scientists are using IPS cells to study what happens to the body in both healthy and diseased states. By taking cell samples from people with Alzheimer's, for example, scientists can create entire cell lines that exactly mimic the disease progression. That's much more useful than studying a disease in mice or other lab animals.
Eventually, scientists may be able to use IPS cells from patients to determine exactly which drug treatments will work best for them, and which will have the fewest side effects.
'Changed our thinking'
The work by Gurdon and Yamanaka "changed our thinking about developmental biology and, at the same time, it creates a platform for unraveling diseases and possibly treating patients," said Dr. Arnold Kriegstein, director of stem cell research at UCSF. "In a lot of ways, it was not really a surprise they won the Nobel Prize."
Yamanaka started his career as an orthopedic surgeon, but he quickly learned he was more interested in basic human biology than surgery. He switched careers in the early 1990s and looked for jobs in the United States, where the labs were more progressive than those in Japan. He was repeatedly rejected, until Gladstone leaders decided to give the young scientist a shot.
It was as a post-doctorate scientist at Gladstone that Yamanaka built the foundation for what would become his life's work. He returned to Japan to raise a family in the late '90s and dedicated himself to regressing adult cells to their stem cell state, a task that many of his colleagues thought futile.
Return to S.F.
When Yamanaka finally unlocked the code to creating stem cells in 2006, he shared all of his work and within a year, scientists around the world were repeating his results and creating their own IPS cells. A year later, Gladstone leaders persuaded him to return to San Francisco part time, and he now works in the city one week every month.
"What Shinya was able to achieve is emphatically important. It will change science and medicine forever," said Alan Trounson, president of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which provides grants to stem cell researchers.
"I remember when he was doing these studies, most people pooh-poohed his work," Trounson said. "But he knew what he was trying to do and he achieved it. And combining what he did with John Gurdon, this is one of the big steps in science."
Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com


text:
Proudly Made in America
Build Yours Custom Guitar Body
Build Yours Custom Guitar Neck
Build Yours Custom Bass Body
Build Yours Custom Bass Neck
Shop In Stock Guitar Bodies
Shop In Stock Guitar Necks
Shop In Stock Bass Bodies
Shop In Stock Bass Necks
Learn More Warmoth Guitar Bodies
Learn More Warmoth Guitar Necks
Learn More Warmoth Bass Bodies
Learn More Warmoth Bass Necks
This is the same celluloid material we use for our pickguards but it is also suitable for all manner of projects where laminates are used; ie name plates, covers, etc.
Material: Celluloid.
Laminate: Tortoise/White/Black/White.
Thickness: .090" (2.28mm).
I purchased tortoise pickguard material from 5 different suppliers and I should have just bought from Warmoth in the first place. Their's is my favorite. I would describe the look as Retro Modern (IMO). Retro in the 3-ply layers, but a little "modern" in the overall "brown" look. The pictures on the website are very accurate. (Look through the in-stock bodies in the showcases and the pick guard "examples".) The brown is prominent and nicely dark. The "red" isn't dominating. The yellow is a nice golden color (not cheddar orange). The "white" 3-ply is also closer to parchment IMO (which is true to vintage). It's not a "perfect vintage" because it lacks a little bit of the 3D translucency seen in old tortoise pickguards, BUT I prefer the nice BROWN look of this rather than the reddish look of most true-vintage. And most people won't ever look close enough to appreciate the 3D look anyways. Brown matches better with more colors rather than the red hue and THAT is what people will notice.
Warmoth Guitar Products
Copyright © 2020 Warmoth Guitar Products. All rights reserved.


text:
This unusual documentary chronicles five years in the grim, silent life of an elderly French couple (the husband was nearly eighty). In it, not one word is spoken. They live in a rural area, and the film follows their daily routine in extraordinary detail. Although the man's wife died during the filming, the production continued on and show the old man doing his chores alone, awaiting his own death. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2020 FANDANGO MOVIES.


text:
Oakland to punish cops in Occupy clashes
18 mistreated protesters, police's investigation says
Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan said Friday that he is seeking to fire two officers, demote a third and suspend 15 others for their treatment of Occupy Oakland protesters, whose downtown clashes with police drew worldwide attention.
Jordan also revealed that one of his officers - not an officer from an outside agency - fired a beanbag that critically injured Iraq war veteran Scott Olsen on Oct. 25, an incident that galvanized the Occupy movement. Olsen was one of more than 1,000 people who rallied after police cleared an elaborate encampment outside City Hall.
The internal investigations play a key role in the department's efforts to show it can police its own officers - the central issue in an impending court battle over whether the force will be placed under federal control.
Jordan said the investigations, which are not complete, as well as the department's evolution in crowd-control tactics during the past year, demonstrate it is capable of reform.
While a majority of officers did well in controlling demonstrations that involved tens of thousands of people, he said, "There are a few officers who acted inappropriately. I have taken action to hold them accountable. In the end, I want our officers to exercise good constitutional policing."
Occupy activists said they were pleasantly surprised by the possible discipline of officers.
But the sanctions sought by Jordan were met with anger by the president of the police union, who said desperate city leaders are using rank-and-file officers as scapegoats. The officers are facing stiffer punishment than Occupy activists who "vandalized and destroyed downtown," said Barry Donelan, head of the union.
"Oakland is clearly focused on persecuting police officers and not in any way focused on prosecuting crime," said Donelan. "The hardworking officers who were deployed to deal with Occupy Oakland never asked for those circumstances, but clearly the city's lack of leadership and lack of planning put them in an untenable situation."
Major mistakes cited
In June, a city-commissioned consultant concluded that the Police Department had been insufficiently prepared on the night Olsen was wounded - and made pivotal mistakes - thanks to diminishing resources and a "failure to keep pace with national current standards."
City officials said state law bars them from naming officers facing discipline, and they declined to go into detail about what investigators had found that warranted the punishments.
Excessive force alleged
In general terms, Jordan and City Administrator Deanna Santana said many of the officers used excessive force in deploying beanbags and batons, failed to supervise subordinates and failed to activate chest-mounted cameras.
The 15 recommended suspensions are for up to 30 days, without pay.
The officers who face suspension have not yet been disciplined, and the two officers Jordan wants to fire are on paid leave. Each officer has a right to a pre-disciplinary hearing in front of a commanding officer who forwards recommendations to Jordan, who must weigh in again.
Jordan said a few cases - including the wounding of Olsen - were also the subject of criminal investigations that could lead to charges.
Olsen's attorney, Mark Martel, said he was heartened by Jordan's disciplinary decisions.
"Wow," Martel said. "That sounds like a meaningful action. It's not what I'm used to with these types of situations. ... It sounds like they've taken it seriously. That's gratifying."
Martel, who plans to sue the city, said he hadn't known definitively that an Oakland police officer had shot his client with the beanbag. Olsen, he said, had suffered severe brain damage and multiple skull fractures, requiring him to learn how to talk again.
In another incident widely viewed on YouTube, protester Scott Campbell was recording police when he was shot with a beanbag. Campbell, speaking from the Palestinian territories Friday, said he still has a "dent" in his leg.
"It encourages me to believe that the city and the OPD are willing to recognize that serious violations took place and that at least some officers will face consequences," he said.
Negotiating on settlement
Campbell said his lawyers have been in negotiations with the city on a settlement.
A majority of the 1,127 Occupy-related complaints against officers stemmed from three events: the street clashes of Oct. 25, the "general strike" on Nov. 2, and a rally on Jan. 28 in which activists tried to take over a vacant city convention center.
Under state law, officers must be disciplined within a year of an incident.
Jordan said he had already issued written reprimands to 23 officers and assigned three to counseling and training.
The investigations were handled by the Police Department's internal affairs division as well as five outside contractors whom the city collectively paid more than $700,000.
Reform efforts
Both the city's handling of Occupy protests and its effort to investigate complaints are seen as tests within a decadelong effort to carry out a number of reforms ordered by a federal judge.
Civil rights attorneys are asking a federal judge to place the department under receivership for failing to implement all of the reforms. A hearing is set for Dec. 13.
An independent monitor overseeing the reforms criticized Oakland police for using "military-type" tactics against Occupy activists. But Jordan said a lot has changed in the past year.
During demonstrations on May 1, officers swooped in on individual suspects instead of making mass arrests, kept their beanbag guns holstered and used tear gas sparingly.
"This is an evolving process," Jordan said.
Matthai Kuruvila and Demian Bulwa are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com, email@example.com Twitter: @matthai, @demianbulwa


text:
|Sesame Street
|Herry's first day at daycare
|Air date
|April 27, 1993
|Season 24 (1992-1993)
|Written by
|Cathi Rosenberg-Turow
|At her day care center, Lillian tells the viewer that today is Herry's first day at day care. He sadly says goodbye to his mother at the door, but Lillian tells him that he'll have a great day.
|Lillian finds out what everybody wants to play with, but Herry just wants to wait until his mother returns. To make him feel better, Lillian sings him a special song, the "Miss Your Mama Blues", which Herry sings along with. In the song, Lillian mentions the things they can do together to make him feel better and join the other kids.
| Two hippie kids wonder how to make their droopy plant grow.
(First: Episode 1484)
| Kermit sings "On My Pond."
(First: Episode 2328)
| Gloria Globe appears sick and ailing, because of pollution and damage to the planet. Only by taking better care of the Earth can Gloria become well again.
(First: Episode 2781)
| Cars on the street go fast, then slow, then fast again.
(First: Episode 2988)
| Guy Smiley hosts a dinner for all things that begin with the sound SH. Guests include a shirt, a shrieking shovel, a shepherd, and a shark.
(First: Episode 2564)
|Leaves form a SH.
|Herry and Daniel play "table patterns", where they drum out rhythmic patterns with blocks on the table. Daniel, who is blind, explains that he can hear the patterns rather than watching Herry do them. He also uses his nose to tell when lunch is ready, and guesses everything that Lillian has prepared.
| A dog, a girl and a lizard dance to a bongo beat.
Artist: Karen Aqua
(First: Episode 2795)
| Elmo and Seven Goldfish sing.
(First: Episode 2734)
| Seven animals in a tree.
Artist: Owe Gustafson
(First: Episode 1530)
| Children of all kinds sing "We All Sing with the Same Voice."
(First: Episode 1708)
| It's a monkey
Artist: Ishu Patel
(First: Episode 1767)
| Ernie & Bert — At the movies, a lady with a tall hat sits in front of Ernie and Bert. She block's Ernie's view, so he asks her if she'd mind taking it off. When she places the hat on the seat next to her, Bert's view is now obstructed.
(First: Episode 0538)
| Dr. Annie Eyeball looks at air.
Artist: Bruce Cayard
(First: Episode 2592)
|Muppets / Celebrity
| Susan Sarandon learns the Meryl Sheep method of acting: switching emotions while saying the alphabet.
(First: Episode 2567)
| "Alphabet Jungle"
(First: Episode 2733)
| The Count (in voiceover) subtracts from five to three to zero children on a park bench.
(First: Episode 2942)
| Upon Mr. Johnson's latest visit to Charlie's Restaurant, the waitstaff has been implemented with a new service device. Grover instructs his guest to ring the bell three times to get his attention, instead of yelling across such an upper-crust establishment. After Mr. Johnson has trouble deciphering the speed with which he must ring the bell, he calls Andre the manager out to address his concerns. Andre, having been interrupted while eating a sour cream soufflé, doesn't think there's anything wrong with the bell. In fact, he thinks it looks so good that he eats it, as Mr. Johnson notices the time, and rushes out of the restaurant.
(First: Episode 2848)
| Ornate Rs fly through the sky to a song.
(First: Episode 2932)
| A wizard turns into R things.
(First: Episode 0369)
|Outside Hooper's Store, Elmo wants to serve a piece of birthday cake to his electric fan, but Mr. Handford explains that it's not possible. Elmo knows; he's only making believe it's the fan's birthday, and he wants to watch it blow out the candle.
| Kids sing "Happy Birthday." While they're singing, a birthday cake with animated candles is shown.
(First: Episode 3005)
| Ernie & Bert — Ernie brings a surprise home, and he tells Bert to guess what it is. The surprise turns out to be a puppy. Bert wants to call the puppy "Norman"; Ernie suggests "Godzilla the Wonder-Dog".
(First: Episode 1956)
| "The Wasteroon Song" - three water drops complain about people wasting water, calling them "Wasteroons."
Artist: ArtistMike
(First: Episode 2851)
| A girl narrates a segment about nature through winter and spring.
(First: Episode 1966)
| Sand U/u
(First: Episode 0624)
|Ethel Mermaid sings "I Get a Kick Out of U."
| Typewriter: U for Umbrella
(First: Episode 0808)
|Herry's mother returns to the day care, and Herry shows her something he made. Mrs. Monster tries to guess what it is by looking at the crafts around the center, but none of them are what Herry wanted to show her. What did he make? A new friend: Daniel.
| Alphaquest: R
Running down a road past a rabbit, a radio, some rocks and a rainbow
(First: Episode 2726)
|R /r paper fold
| "Fat Cat"
(First: Episode 0536)
| Seven rabbits
Artist: Owe Gustafson
(First: Episode 1493)
| Sesame Street News Flash
The hare challenges The Tortoise to a rematch: this time, the Tortoise comes equipped with a jet-pack.
(First: Episode 2690)
| "Do the Continental" - two kids jump into Africa.
(First: Episode 2733)
| A girl goes to school somewhere in Africa. We see the girl getting ready to go to school, as she washes herself and brushes her teeth, puts on her clothes, brushes her hair, and takes her lunch, all with some help from her mother. We see her walking past her neighbors and watching her classmates play outside as she arrives at school. The bell rings and the girl enters the school, where the teacher is passing out chalk to her students. We see the teacher teaching the students the English words: "a boy", "a girl", "a man", "a woman," which she has written on the board, along with a drawing for each word. The students repeat the words, then write them down on their individual chalkboards as we hear the girl remark, "We are learning to read and write." The students then jump up and down, as the teacher looks on, smiling. Next, we see the students jumping outside excitedly, now that school has finished.
(First: Episode 2658)
|Back at Hooper's, Elmo now has a present for the fan, and he wants to see the fan open it. Mr. Handford is skeptical that it can be done... until he sees the fan blow all of the paper and ribbon off. The present's box is empty, since Elmo can't figure out what you're supposed to give a fan. Mr. Handford announces the sponsors.
|Previous episode:
|Next episode:
|Episode 3126
|Episode 3128
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.